PURRaffection

Ear mites are a common parasite that reside in the ears of dogs and cats. They are living organisms that look like ticks. They are tiny in size but can be seen with the naked eye. They will appear like tiny white bugs in the inner flaps of the ears. A mite infection is better detected by veterinarians that will examine the ear wax of the cat or dog under a microscope.

An infection of this nature will produce a black, scaly discharge. This discharge consists of the animal’s ear wax, blood and the actual ear mites. It is important to have the infection properly diagnosed by a veterinarian. These type of infections are often confused with other types of bacterial infections. And if the wrong topical treatment is applied, then the mite infection will just get worse.

The ear mites are parasites that tend to dwell on the surface of the animal’s ear. In cases of an extreme infection, the mites may travel to the animal’s face and head. The mites will lay their eggs on their host and they will typically hatch in four days. The hatched larva feeds off of the animal’s ear wax until it turns into a mite.

If not treated, the ear mite will live in their host for approximately two months. They will continue to feed off of the animal’s ear wax. The mites will continue to lay eggs and grow new mites. This infection is seen in both dogs and cats but is more common in cats.

The ear mites are contagious and can be transferred from one animal to the other. So it is important that if you think your pet has this type of infection, they should be diagnosed and treated right away. All it takes is physical contact for the infection to spread. If your pet does end up having a mite infection, then they should have limited or no contact with other pets until the infection is gone.

This type of infection is very uncomfortable for the dog or cat that is acting as the host. The mites presence cause an inflammatory reaction that is very irritating to the animal. This infection can result in other skin diseases which can be more serious that the original mite infection. It is very important to make sure your pet is treated immediately if they have a mite infection in their ears.

There are a number of products on the market that get rid of ear mites. Many of the products kill the incubating mite eggs. But these sorts of treatments must be utilized for the whole period of the life cycle of the mite which is approximately one month. This may be too lengthy for most animals, if the infection is really bad. There are other health professional prescribed medications that will perform faster. It is best to see your veterinarian for the correct treatment for this form of an infection.